Latch for filing cabinet drawer

ABSTRACT

In the front of a filing cabinet drawer is an open flush type handle defining a handhole into which the user may insert his fingers to pull the drawer out. A finger member extends longitudinally across the top of the handle in the handhole and may be pressed upward by the fingers of the user to raise a latch actuating element which extends from the handhole to one side of the drawer. The latch actuating member carries a latch so related to a strike on the wall of the cabinet that, when the drawer is pushed home, the latch member rides up on the strike and then drops down to lock the drawer in place. When the latch member is pressed upwardly by the fingers of the user in the handhole, the latch is released and the drawer may be pulled out.

United States Patent [72] Inventor [21] App]. No. [22] Filed [45] Patented [73] Assignee [54] LATCH FOR FILING CABINET DRAWER 3,252,746 5/1966 Kafferlinetal. 3,239,298 3/1966 McCarthy Primary ExaminerPatrick D. Lawson Assistant ExaminerGeorge H. Krizmanich Attorney-Parker, Carter & Markey ABSTRACT: In the front of a filing cabinet drawer is an open flush type handle defining a handhole into which the user may insert his fingers to pull the drawer out. A finger member extends longitudinally across the top of the handle in the handhole and may be pressed upward by the fingers of the user to raise a latch actuating element which extends from the handhole to one side of the drawer. The latch actuating member carries a latch so related to a strike on the wall of the cabinet that, when the drawer is pushed home, the latch member rides up on the strike and then drops down to lock the drawer in place. When the latch member is pressed upwardly by the fingers of the user in the handhole, the latch is released and the drawer may be pulled out.

LATCH FOR FILING CABINET DRAWER SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The drawer has an outer vertical front panel apertured to receive a flush handle element which defines a pocket or handhole. Extending rearwardly and upwardly from the bottom of the handle is an inclined surface adapted to receive and support a label. Extending upwardly and inwardly from the top of the aperture in the handle is an inclined wall which may be contacted by the fingers of the operator to withdraw the handle. The handle includes also a horizontal plate extending rearwardly from the upwardly inclined wall and slotted to receive a latch actuating finger member adapted to be contacted by the operator to release the latch as he attempts to withdraw the drawer. The finger member is held in place at one end by a spring clip associated with the handle, extends across the handle and terminates in a latch supporting element which extends across the drawer, is guided in the wall thereof and supports a latch element in line with a latch strike in the cabinet.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The invention is illustrated more or less diagrammatically in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a front view of a portion of a drawer and a portion of the cabinet supporting it,

FIG. 2 is a section along the line 2-2 of FIG. 1,

FIG. 3 is a section along the line 3-3 of FIG. 1,

FIG. 4 is a section along the line 4-4 of FIG. 1,

FIG. 5 is a section along the line 5-5 of FIG. 1,

FIG. 6 is a front elcvational view of a modified latch strike,

FIG. 7 is a top plan view of the modified latch strike, and

FIG. 8 is a side elevational view of the modified latch strike.

Like parts are indicated by like numerals throughout the specification and drawings.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The front panel 1 of a file cabinet drawer, slidably mounted in the file cabinet 2, is apertured to receive a flush type drawer handle 3 which defines a handhole 4. The handle 3 carries a plate 5 extending upwardly and rearwardly from the handle and is provided with a clip 6 adapted to hold a label 7, visible to the user. Extending upwardly and inwardly from the top of the handle 3 is an inclined pull wall 8. Extending rearwardly from such pull wall is a horizontally disposed wall 9 longitudinally slotted at 10. The ends of the handle 3 include supporting plates 11 which terminate in threaded pins 12 on which are nuts 13 which, abutting against the holding plate 14 carried by the front panel, holdthe handle in place. A masking wall 15 to enclose the handle and protect it from the contents of the file drawer is indicated.

The Ushaped finger piece I6 extends downwardly through the slot 10 into the handhole and is exposed to the touch of the user. One arm of the U at 17 tenninates in a horizontal element which rests upon the wall 9 and is held in position thereon by the spring clip 18. The spring clip holds the finger piece in proper position with respect to the handle and exerts a 'slight pressure toward downward movement of the finger piece. The other end of the U of the finger piece has an upward arm 19, a horizontal element 20 resting upon the wall 9 and terminating in an offset 21. The extension of the latch actuating member 22 is twisted as indicated at an angle of and extends outwardly, the flat plate of the member being vertical, to be guided for vertical movement in a slot 23 in the sidewall of the drawer. Outside the wall of the drawer, the latch hook 24 is a termination of the element 22 and is presented to a latch strike 25 on the wall of the cabinet. The strike has an inclined surface 26 so that, when the latch moves inwardly with the drawer, it rides up on that surface to caught in place as indicated in FIG. 5. Upward movement of the latch responsive to the finger pressure of the user enables it to clear the inclined strike surface for release of the latch.

A modified form of latch strike is shown in FIGS. 6, 7 and 8. The modified latch strike 25' may be formed of a plastic such as nylon. It has an integral inclined surface 26' on which the latch rides when it moves inwardly with the drawer.

I claim:

1. A latch mechanism for a file cabinet having a sliding drawer,

' said drawer having a front panel with an opening formed therein, a flush handle element socketed in said opening, a latch strike on said file cabinet, said latch mechanism including an elongated latch actuator located behind said front panel of said drawer and having a portion accessible from said opening,

said latch actuator extending across said drawer with one end thereof resiliently clamped to said drawer and the opposite end thereof movable vertically into and out of engagement with said latch strike.

2. The device of claim 1 characterized by the fact that the latch actuator is U-shaped, the base of the U extending across the top of the opening, one arm of the U terminating in a horizontal element resting upon the handle, the other arm of the U" defining the latch element.

3. The device of claim 2 characterized by the fact that the latch element at the end of one arm of the U normally rests upon the handle when the latch is engaged and is raised out of contact with the handle for disengagement of the latch responsive to finger pressure in the finger recess.

4. The device of claim 3 characterized by the fact that the wall of the drawer is slotted to guide the latch in vertical movement and to hold it against displacement with respect to the longitudinal axis of the drawer.

5. The structure of claim 1 further characterized in that a plate extends inwardly and upwardly from the lower portion of the opening to support a label which is adapted to visible through the opening.

6. The device of claim 5 characterized by the fact that the plate is spaced at its bottom from the handle to receive a label and carries a clip at its top to overhang a label.

7. The device of claim 2 characterized by the fact that a spring clip anchors said one arm of the U" on the handle and urges the latch element downwardly. 

1. A latch mechanism for a file cabinet having a sliding drawer, said drawer having a front panel with an opening formed therein, a flush handle element socketed in said opening, a latch strike on said file cabinet, said latch mechanism including an elongated latch actuator located behind said front panel of said drawer and having a portion accessible from said opening, said latch actuator extending across said drawer with one end thereof resiliently clamped to said drawer and the opposite end thereof movable vertically into and out of engagement with said latch strike.
 2. The device of claim 1 characterized by the fact that the latch actuator is U-shaped, the base of the ''''U'''' extending across the top of the opening, one arm of the ''''U'''' terminating in a horizontal element resting upon the handle, the other arm of the ''''U'''' defining the latch element.
 3. The device of claim 2 characterized by the fact that the latch element at the end of one arm of the ''''U'''' normally rests upon the handle when the latch is engaged and is raised out of contact with the handle for disengagement of the latch responsive to finger pressure in the finger recess.
 4. The device of claim 3 characterized by the fact that the wall of the drawer is slotted to guide the latch in vertical movement and to hold it against displacement with respect to the longitudinal axis of the drawer.
 5. The structure of claim 1 further characterized in that a plate extends inwardly and upwardly from the lower portion of the opening to support a label which is adapted to visible through the opening.
 6. The device of claim 5 characterized by the fact that the plate is spaced at its bottom from the handle to receive a label and carries a clip at its top to overhang a label.
 7. The device of claim 2 characterized by the fact that a spring clip anchors said one arm of the ''''U'''' on the handle and urges the latch element downwardly. 